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“What about her psychiatrist?”
He shakes his head. “Charlie stopped going to Dr. Martin after about a year. Her night terrors had stopped. When they came back, she decided she was too broken to be fixed.”
We’re both quiet for a few moments. “Did Lila have night terrors?”
Tucker sucks in a sharp breath as a pained shadow passes over his face.
“I don’t want to pry,” I say hastily. “I just wondered how you both knew exactly what to do for Charlie tonight.”
“We’ve had a lot of practice,” he says darkly. “She’s had them from the beginning. Lila’s started when I came home. When we –” he breaks off, and I suddenly understand. Tucker and Lila were engaged before she was taken. Their intimate relationship must have triggered hers.
“So how did Lila move past them?”
“Dr. Martin had us see someone who specializes in intimate relationships.”
“You both went?”
He nods. “She taught me how to help her, what things to watch out for when we – uh – well, how to rebuild positive associations for her.” His eyes grow immeasurably sad. “The first time I came up behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, she had a full-blown panic attack.” He gestures toward the hallway with his beer bottle. “Exactly like what you saw earlier, except she broke a glass and damn near shivved me with the shards.”
“Those goddamned bastards,” I growl. Fucking sadistic assholes, ruining lives, hurting women and getting off on it. Death was too good for them.
Tucker’s jaw hardens. “If I’d known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have killed them quickly.”
It’s silent until he gets to his feet. “C’mon. Let’s pack you a bag.”
My head jerks back. “For what?”
“You can stay with us.”
I shake my head. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You can’t stay here. She nearly shot you in the head.”
I cross my arms, unmoving from my spot on the bed.
“Fine, I’ll pack your stuff,” he mutters, opening the closet.
“Pack anything you want, but I’m not leaving Charlie.”
Tucker whirls around. “What happens if next time she doesn’t miss? Be reasonable.”
“I won’t leave her, Tucker.”
“Mark –”
“It’s my fault she’s like this, Tucker!” I explode, stabbing my fingers into my chest. “Mine! I sent them into that trap. I made that call, the wrong call. I won’t desert her because of the damage my actions caused.”
He sighs wearily. “Mark, if she shoots you, it will destroy her.”
“She won’t.” My voice is quiet, exuding a certainty I don’t feel. But it doesn’t matter. I won’t leave her when she needs me, no matter what.
I won’t abandon Charlie.
CHARLIE
I hear the door again. Someone else is coming. They never stop coming.
Fucking bastards! No more!
